Accidents With Children In The Home
No one is exempt from having some distraction and suddenly getting hurt, even though they are indoors. This fits perfectly in the case of children.
Accidents with children in the home are nothing out of the ordinary. So we’ll tell you how you can avoid them.
Children are just as prone to domestic accidents as adults. Even though we are usually responsible for handling hazardous elements such as stove or cutlery.
Recently, a report from an Argentine official entity was published indicating that, in that country, accidents at home are the second leading cause of child deaths.
Drownings, burns and falls topped the list of accidents involving children in the home.
However, it is not necessary to go to such an extreme to understand that it is always a latent danger. In fact, many have already classified childhood accidents as “epidemics”.
For this reason, it is important to be aware of the necessary precautions to avoid accidents with children at home.
Accidents with children at home: the most frequent causes
The domestic accidents that usually cause the greatest number of injuries to children are as follows:
1. Falls
Who never fell when he was little, let him throw the first stone.
In fact, this is almost unavoidable, as in early childhood we start walking and are learning to control our bodies.
Bruises, cuts and even fractures caused by falls at home are quite common.
Although it is almost impossible to avoid them, it is recommended that an adult always accompany the child, especially when playing on the playground, on uneven terrain or when learning to ride a bicycle.
2. Burns
This type of child accident at home can have serious consequences. Many burns arise from intrusions by children when a parent is cooking.
Therefore, it is best to keep them away from that location during this period. If this is not possible, the child must be monitored at all times.
Also, if you have stoves at home, it’s important to keep children away from them. From an early age, they must be taught that it is dangerous to touch them.
3. Drowning
Fortunately, drownings are not very frequent. However, its consequences are fatal.
To avoid these accidents with children, keep two essential tips in mind.
First, never leave the child alone in the bathtub. If she’s 4 years old or older, you can leave now, but make sure there’s not too much water so she’s not at risk of drowning.
Also, redouble your precautions with regard to the pool. Never leave children unattended. They should always be with a float and don’t forget to always put them to play in a children’s pool.
4. Poisoning and suffocation
Finally, objects and products that children put in their mouths should also be considered.
Always keep toxic products, such as cleaning products or medications, out of children’s reach. Preferably place them on elevated surfaces.
It is also important not to let children play with plastic bags or small toys as they can cause suffocation if accidentally swallowed.
Recommendations for preventing childhood accidents at home
In the kitchen
- Do not leave toxic products within reach of children.
- Close the gas switch whenever you are not using the stove.
- It is essential not to leave the handle of the pans pointing towards the outside of the stove.
In the bedroom
- Make sure the crib protection rails are in place.
- Also check that the crib feet are securely fastened. Wheeled models are not recommended.
- For younger children, don’t keep room or closet keys handy to prevent them from locking themselves inside, accidentally or otherwise.
in the bathroom
- Place non-slip mats in the bathtub and shower.
- Do not leave home appliances handy, much less turned on.
In addition, in the rest of the house, we must be careful with the uneven floor, as is the case with the steps.
Of course, we also can’t forget to put bars and gates on the stairs so that children can’t go up or down unsupervised.
Also, avoid very slippery floors as they can cause an unnecessary fall.
Also be very careful when children are handling toys: some contain batteries and, unaware of their dangers, children may put them in their mouths.
Finally, you cannot ignore or underestimate the importance of supervision. A large number of home accidents are preventable if an adult is watching the children’s actions.
